I don't buy the more conspiratorial view. I think McCain is seeking to define Obama, heretofore a relatively unknown quality, as a liberal empty suit. Republicans have already defined Hillary, and besides, unlike Giuliani, Romney, and even Huckabee, McCain's never seem to dig the Clinton-bashing (remember Huckabee's "maybe Hillary could be on the first rocket to Mars?"). But apparently, if those letters posted here recently are any evidence, he doesn't like Obama very much.

Pat Buchanan suggests that McCain might prefer Obama because he has trouble with "Reagan Democrats," Because Obama has not won the support of white working-class people to date, those people might be on the table for McCain if Obama runs in the general. In short, McCain might believe that Obama's base of African Americans and highly educated liberals is out of reach for any Republican but that he can win over voters who would support Hillary but have been reluctant to support Obama. I hate to make Pat Buchanan sound like a sage, but he might have a point.

John McCain went right after Barack Obama in his victory speech tonight. A few thoughts: 1) Matthew Yglesias beat me to the punch on this point -- it's a bit strange for McCain to critique Obama for saying the U.S. should unilaterally use force against

McCain's attacks on Obama made him look like he was channeling Hillary's attacks on Obama.  The old "I'm the experienced candidate so vote for me over the young inspirational guy" ploy.  I sure as heck hope McCain continues in this vein should Obama win the nomination because what both Hillary and McCain fail to realize is that this year the electorate is tired of politics as usual, tired of politicians "experienced" in the politics as usual, and most of all tired of politicians who don't inspire.  Hillary is finding this out now and McCain will find it out in the general election.  I just can't believe that even in her speeches tonight Hillary is dumb enough to keep harping on her Washington experience and her tried and tested and vetted routine when it obviously is getting her nowhere.  McCain please head down this road too!

Additionally, I'm also reminded of the Kennedy/Nixon election this election season because of all the anti-inspiration chatter from McCain and Hillary.  Back then Nixon was all experience and policy and he wiped the floor with Kennedy when it came to the substance of their debate together.  But who won the election and who do you think most people thought won the debate when watching it rather than only listening to it?  Kennedy won both because people felt inspired by him and he was more charismatic than Nixon.  The same is true of Reagan/Carter, Reagan/Mondale, Clinton/Bush, Clinton/Dole, Bush/Gore, Bush/Kerry, etc.  In America inspiration/charisma trumps experience/policy almost every single time.  The idiots in both the McCain and Hillary camps would do well to remember this history before they go attacking Obama for being too inspirational and harping on their candidates experience and superior wonkishness.

The way the Republicans have run "against Washington" as if Washington has not been Republican-occupied territory for the past 8 years is, to say the least, passing strange.

McCain does not seem as intent on channeling Reagan as Romney (sometimes, depending on the week) was. But if Reagan is the referent, will the Democrats consider putting into play a slightly updated version of the Carter-killer-question? "Are (we) better off now than we were eight years ago?"  [Reagan of course said "are you" but let's assume Obama [I'm sort of assuming Obama at this point] can help put "we" back into the national conversation.

"may begin to think of Obama as his general-election foe, which could be more bad news for Hillary Clinton."

I think you've got that right.